In the Late Autumn 2015 edition of BSHAA People we reported on the publication of the third UK EuroTrak report the result of intensive research commissioned by the British Hearing Aid Manufacturers Association (BHAMA). It’s an important piece of work, providing as it does, valuable data that can help Hearing Aid Dispensers in their everyday marketing activities. It also delivers useful information to help combat the barriers to hearing aid adoption.
As BHAMA points out, the interest in the 2015 Survey findings is less the basic information about prevalence of hearing loss and hearing adoption rates, they remain stable but new topics such as the better quality of life corrected hearing loss offers with benefits such as improved sleep, less bullying or teasing, and less tiredness at the end of the day.
The survey also confirms that people with hearing aids are less at risk of developing depressive symptoms and less inclined to suffer from dementia.
BHAMA adds: “All in all, this begins to form the picture of what you could perhaps call a ‘bigger story’, namely that hearing aids are not only good for correcting hearing loss, but in fact contribute to better and more active lives, better quality of life, and better overall health.”
The Association admits this is a quite an ambitious claim and one not heard much in the public debate that has surrounded the decision by North Staffordshire CCG to ration hearing aids – a move which now looks set to be followed by other Commissioning Groups around the country.
In all the survey involved almost 14,500 people, of which 1,325 self-declared their hearing impairment – 605 of them had a hearing aid or aids, 83% of these were NHS instruments. Although the family doctor, ENT specialist or Hearing Aid Dispenser was the primary source of information for 64%of users, only 14%of non-hearing aid users gained information this way.
Internet research was the next most source of information followed closely by friends and family. It is no surprise to learn that 82% of aid users do research to gather information about hearing aids.
You can now read the full BSHAA People article here
Or you can download the EuroTrack 2015 Report